Electric supply circuits



Aug. 29, 1950 E. l.. c. WHITE x-:TAL

ELECTRIC SUPPLY CIRCUITS Filed sept. 18,' 1945 maf/frm /7 ANEMF/Ela H/a 11111.1 111111 h Patented Aug. 29, 19J50 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2;520,617 "ELECTRIC sorriir'omouirs l*Eric Lawrence Casliug White, IvenxEric .Arthur Nind, Ruislips and Leonard` Reginald Jllffl' Johnson, Harlington; England, assignors .to Electric and Musical Industries,.L1mitd, a

British company Application Vseptember 1s, 19.45', semaine 617,006, In- Grea't Britain September 10, 194.3 Section 1, Public yiaw E69 0,?A`uglist` 8; 1946' Patent expires' Septemberv `10, 11963vv 8 Claims.

l The present invention relates to electric supply circuits for feeding current orwell-,age intermit- ,tently to va load. lI-he invention has particular but not exclusive :reference 'to arrangements for deriving from an alternating current source a current of 'stabilized-value;

4The invention has vbeen developed vin connectionA with the provision of a suitable source of supply for charging a delay network which is discharged through a magnetron valve for' pro* ducing pulses ofhign frequency energy; With such -an arrangement it important to employ an arrangement in which the vpeak current through 'the magnetron is as nearly as Vpossible constant so that the mode of operation of 'the magnetron duringl each pulseV is the same'. :The operating frequency of the magnetron is'thus' stabilized.

According to one feature of the present' -injvenai tion an electric supply circuit is provided for feeding current or voltage intermittently to a; load, comprising a rectiflerfor measuring Jthe amplitude of the-intermittent current or voltage fed to said-load andmeans control-led bythe out` putV or" said rectifier formaintaining thev amplii tud'e -of said intermittent current or voltage -fed to saidload substantially constant. Wherethe electric supp1y=circuit is constructed -so as to be fed -from an alternating current sourcefa grid controlled .rectifier is preferably provided lfor rec-l tifying the current fromsaid source for-feed'- ing toza device suchasa. delay network which serves to feed. current intermittently to .saidloa'd whichy may be a magnetron, thegrid-contro1led rectifier vbeing .controlled .by a bias potential `de"i rived from the rectier. which` measures the curirent or :voltage fed ,tcffsaid load'.

4Where the grid-controlled rectier `has a, screening` electrode the invention also :provides various means forv preventing or: reducing'. the

now of current to the -sciteenwhen .theanode' ofsaid grid-controlled rectier lenen-conduct-v ing and without causing substantial.reductlonfin the gain thereof.

Among the objectsvof thelinvention are to pro-A vide an improved method of and meansforregulating a power ysupply for an intermittently .energized load. Another objectof the invention-.is to provide improved means for controlling, the voltage or current applied. to an litnermittently energized load; A further .object of theinvention is to-provide an improved voltage orcurrent regulating circuit for controlling theenergy applied to lan intermittently energized load; :An additional object is to proydeanimproved freeuf 'I latlng- 'circuit responsive to loadcurrentfor conel trollingthe energy applied to an'. intermittently' energized load. Another obiect Vis-to provide an improved power control circuit. including a' peak detector responsive to load current for controlel lin'gthe-impedariceof a rectifier energiZing-a'load. A still further object of the invention isv to pro-v vide-V iinlnfo'ved lr'neans for controlling 'screen .cur-` lFigure-@1V .isa schematic Acircuit'diagram of .an electric supply. circuit in vacconzl'ance with. the' invention and' Figures' 2,A 3.4 and .5 `are schematic circuit arrangements for reducingor :preventing the :flower currentr `tothe screeninggrid inthe rectifier valve .ofthe circuit arrangement. shown inFig-urev 1 Awhen the anode ofthe valve*V is'I noniconducting. f

I 'Referring to riigurerl, the'. circuititherein shown comprises .a rectifier-valve. l'. arrtingedtol be foo from. a source ofv alternating` .currentconneoted tothe primary Winding of the. transformer 2; this valve beingiarranged tozlurnish at .terminals 3 fa .negative output voltagcwhieh is. smoothed by the .condenser Jl'. 4filtre load--,circuit.connected across the terininalsk may comprise. a -delayznetie work D: which is vchargeol -forY supplying current pulses to a` .magnetron lvalve M; theY .current through whichv also :passes ,through a resista-noe El shown atnthe lleft,.hand.side/.of .the figure.

.Connectediaoross the vresistance '.5, .butrisolatedz therefromwin respect .fofDgV .6. by blocking .cone densers Ew, isle peak rectifier ;6,. having-,a load resistancel th.. The voutput ,of Athe rectifier 8' is fed through .smoothing-elements .Goito .an ampli.a rier'valve fl ',3 snowman a :screen-:grid v4valve, ltneout; put foi-'which isxappliedeto the `control electrode of the:l valye Al in Suche ...senseastoincrease Ithe negative; zbias .on the valve' l'ffsho'uldthe' peak voltagerdeveleped-Viacrossthc resistance .5-

Grease; i

The .valve e' is shownasehayingfa screeningLgrld connected 'to a point oneJ :potentiometer .formed by resistances la, connected 'between the positive terminal fof. .the Vhigh-.tension .supply for :the ,valve 't -andxeartn well'. understood manner. The anode load resistance of .the yalve'lifisshown at 1b. The output of the valve 1 is fed to the ccn-v trol electrode of valve i through a resistance 1c, the output circuit of valve 'I being completed through a resistance Ia the fend of which is l maintained negative with respect to earth by connection to a suitable terminal 8.

sistance 5 at which the control on the rectiflerll starts to become eiective, is determined by adjustment of a negative biasfrom potentiometer 9, the total grid-cathode voltage on amplifierV 'I being the algebraic sum of the bias andthe out' put of rectifier 6.

It will be seen that in the arrangement of Figure 1, should the peak current through there- The value of the peak voltage across the re- In the arrangement shown in Figure 2 there is connected between the anode and the control electrode vof valve I a rectifier Ill, shown as a diode, which is connected in series with resistances l! and I2, the rectifier Ill being arranged to pass current when the anode of valve I belcornes negative with respect to the control grid thereof. Under these conditions the control grid of the valve I attains a negative potential which is determined by the ratio of resistances II and I2 and the flow of current to the screening grid of the valve I is substantially prevented. The arrangement of Figure 2 is satisfactory if the frequency; of the current fed to the valve I is 10W,

sistance 5 increase for any reason, the output 4 of rectier will increase and the potential applied to the control electrode of valveA I will be- 'but ifthis frequency is too high, the capacity to earth of the rectier ID in conjunction with resistance II serves to produce such a large phase shift in the voltage applied to the control grid of come more positive causing the current through and if no amplification ofthe control potential Y derived from the rectiilerj isrequired the amplifier valve 'I may be dispensed with, the polarity ofthe vcontrol potential being suitably altered.

The rectifier valve IA of Figure 1 is shown as having a screening grid. The valve may also include, a suppressor grid, not shown. The use of such a valve is to be preferred in the particular 1 case referred to due to the fact that the current passed by the valve is dependent practically entirely onthe potentials of thecontrol grid and screening grid of the valve, the current being varied by adjustment of the potential of either of these electrodes, and for practically the whole time that the anode ofthe valve is'positive with respect to the cathode, the full valve current flows to the anode. Thus thevalve I will operate to feed rectied current pulses of substantially square waveform, and will operate to feed ai large amount of energy to the load circuit. Moreoverfa valve having a screening grid can beesubjected to a relatively high reverse potential without danger of breakdown. However, if

' desiredit is possible to employ for the valve I a= triodeV valve and if a triode valve is used this preferably has a topcap anode to withstand the high back voltages which occur in operation.

. If the rectiiier valve Ir has a screening grid as shown in Figure 1 itis desirable'to provide means f or preventing or reducing the flow of current tothe screening grid when the anode of valve I 1s non-conducting, that is to say, when the potentialof ,the anode of the Valve IV becomes zero or negative with respect to the cathode of the valve. Such means might comprise suitable potential dropping resistances connected between the screening grid and thepositive source of potential to which the screeninggrid is connected, but

such resistances seriously reduce the gain of theV valve., Means for reducing or preventing the ow of current to the screening grid without seriously reducing the gain of the valve I are shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 in which elements corresponding to those shown in Figure 1 are indicated by like reference numerals.

the valve I that the arrangement cannot be employed. The alternative arrangements cf Figures 3, 4, andl5 are more suitable for higher frequencies, In the arrangement of Figure 3 the screening grid of valve I is fed with positive potential through a resistance I4, and is connected to the control grid of the valve through a rectifier I5, shown asa diode having its anode connected to the control grid, a suitable blocking condenser I6 being interposed between the rectier I5 and ythe screening grid of the valve.

When the anode of valve Itbecomes non-conducting the current of the screengrid ofthe valverses and the potential of the screening grid thereby f alls due to the Y increase in the voltage dropover resistance Ill. Thus a negative impulse is applied to the rectifier l5 causing they cathode of the rectier I5 t0 become negative.

with respect to the anode so that the `rectifier conducts. Thus the potential of the control grid of valverI is reduced thereby limiting the current in the valvev as desired without employing res istance I4 o f large value.

Y When the anode of valve I becomes conducting, the yscreen grid current drops, the screen grid potential rises, and thediode I5 again becomes non-conducting, thus allowing the magnetron` current control of the grid potential of valve I to become eifective. Since the said grid potential never needs to be positive with respect to earth, it is sucient if the cathode of diode I5 rises to earth potential. It is also desirable that it lshould Vnot rise beyond the necessary amount.

or the amount of its negative travel in the other halfk ofthe cycle will be reduced,.and the limitation of screen current of valve i will be less effec-l tiyeg. To ensure this, a diode I'I is provided with its cathode earthed and .its anode connected to thepcathode of diode I5. A leak resistance I8 is preferably connected across diodeY Il. Diode I'I and leak I8 can be regarded as providing D. C. restoration for the square pulse Waveform transmitted from'the screen grid of valve I through condenser I6. Y

ln the arrangement of Figure 4 the screeningv grid of the valve I is connected to a source at higher positive potential than that which the screening grid of the valve -is requiredV to -be when the anode of the valve I is' conducting, this connection being eifectedrthrough an inductance 20 and resistance 2| in series. The screening grid is also connected through a rectifier 22 shown as a diode to a source of positive potential whichsets an upper'limit to the operating potentialfor the screening grid, this limitation being eiectedathrough.rectifier. 22 having its anoderesistance 2| falls causing the potentialv of the screening grid to rise, the rapidity of the rise being increased due to the action of the inductance 2G. Accordingly the anode of diode 22 becomes positive with respect to the cathode and the diode 22 becomes conductive, placing the screening grid in connection with its source of operating potential so that the screening grid is maintained at the desired constant potential, While the anode of the valve remains conducting.

In the arrangement of Figure 4 the inductance 20 may be omitted if the resistance 2i has such a value that a sufficient rise of potential on the screening grid of valve i occurs when the anode or the Valve becomes conducting.

The arrangement of Figure 5 is similar to the arrangement of Figure 4 except that the rectier 22 is omitted and the screening grid of the Valve l is only connected to a source of positive potential through the inductance 2@ and resistance 2l in series. In this case the resistance 2l serves to limit the current owing through the screening grid when the anode of valve l is nonconducting and the inductance 2S serves to cause the potential of the screening grid to become rapidly more positive when the anode of valve l commences to conduct.

It will be appreciated that details of the circuit arrangements shown above may be varied, for example, instead of varying the potential of the control grid of valve I, the potential of the screening grid could be Varied to control the output of the valve and While the rectifiers il), I5, I'l and 22 of Figures 2, 3 and 4 have been shown as diodes, other suitable rectifiers, for example, selenium rectiers, may be employed.

While, in the above described arrangements, the peak value of the current is stabilized, it will be appreciated that the invention may be embodied in an arrangement in which the mean value of the current or the peak or the mean value of a voltage is stabilized, the time constant of the smoothing circuit associated with the rectifier 6 being suitably chosen according to the purpose in view.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is:

l. An electric supply circuit for intermittently energizing a load, comprising a peak rectifier coupled to said load for measuring the intermittent energy fed to said load and means including a screen grid rectifier controlled by and coupled to the output of said peak rectier and serially connected with said load for maintaining substantially constant the peak amplitude of said intermittent energy fed to said load.

2. An electric supply circuit for intermittently energizing a load comprising a peak detector coupled to said load and responsive to the intermittent energy applied to said load, a grid-controlled rectier connected in series with said load, said rectifier also having a screen electrode, means for biasing said screen electrode, and

means including an amplifier responsive to the n aim is cutpufr orf .sardi detector for.' controlling the: impedance of said rectier for maintaining'. sub1-f stantiallx constant thef amplitude, of saidl intermittent energy applied tovsai'df. load.

Apparatusaccord'ing toclaim 2 wherein: said load is a magnetron tube, a delay network energized by currentderived-irom said rectier, and means includingv saidA delay network for intermittently pulsing said tube. y

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said grid-controlled rectifier includes a screen electrode, and a second rectiiier connected between the anode and the control grid of said grid-controlled rectier, said second rectifier being arranged to conduct when the anode of said gridcontrolled rectier becomes the same or a lower potential than said control grid whereby the screen current is substantially reduced.

5. A circuit according to claim 2 wherein said grid-controlled rectifier includes a screen electrode, a source of bias potential, impedance means connecting said screen electrode to said bias potential source, and a second rectifier connecting said screen electrode to the control grid of said grid-controlled rectifier, whereby said y second rectier conducts when the anode of said grid-controlled rectier becomes non-conducting to reduce the potential of said control grid, thereby reducing the screen electrode current.

6. A circuit according to claim 2 wherein said grid-controlled rectifier includes a screen electrode, a source of bias potential, impedance means connecting said screen electrode to said bias potential source, a second rectifier connecting said screen-electrode to the control grid of said grid-controlled rectifier, whereby said second rectifier conducts when the anode of said grid-controlled rectier becomes non-conducting to reduce the potential of said control grid, thereby reducing the screen electrode current, and a third rectifier having its anode connected to the cathode of said second rectifier and having its cathode biased at a low potential to limit the rise of potential of said cathode of said second rectier when said second rectifier is rendered non-conducting.

7. An electric supply circuit according to claim 2 wherein said grid-controlled rectifier includes a screen electrode, a source of higher positive potential than is required by said screen electrode when the anode of said grid-controlled rectiiier is conducting, impedance means connecting said screen electrode to said higher potential source, a second rectifier, means connecting said screen electrode of said grid-controlled rectifier to the anode of said second rectifier, means for biasing the cathode of said second rectifier to a positive potential whereby when said grid-controlled rectifler is conducting said second rectifier conducts to connect said screen electrode to said positive potential source and when said anode of said grid-controlled rectifier ceases to conduct said impedance limits the rise of current to said screen electrode.

8. An electric supply circuit according to claim 2 wherein said grid-controlled rectifier includes a screen electrode, and including a source of positive potential, and an impedance comprising an inductance and a resistance serially connected between said positive potential source and said screen electrode, said resistance limiting the current to said screen electrode when the anode of said grid-controlled rectier is non-conducting and said inductance providing rapid increase in mmm? a scret otexiai when said anode commences Y to conduct.

ERIC LAWRENCE cAsLING WHITE. ERIC ARTHUR NIND. Y LEONARD REGINALD JOFFRE JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of .record in the le of this patent:

Number Tonks v July 30, 1948 

